So what does everyone play?

[Merlin Stargazer]

just bought a tin whistle to play next to the guitar, used to play the flute way back, still do from time to time, thought it might me fun avenue to explore

[Serendyn]

My main instrument is the guitar (35+years).
Also some tin whistle and recorder, Q-Chord (a sort of electronic autoharp), and have recently taken up the mandolin.
Tried playing bones a few times, but I never could get the hang of 'em.

[dream soul]

i can play piano, keyboard and recorded, but i don't play often. i also play the harp, i have a small (lap) harp, and i recently bought a full size one. love them!!! i've been playing harp for about ... 9 or 10 years now, i think. i got a violin last year, and i've yet to learn how to play it, but am trying to figure it out. would also love a wooden whistle, but can't find any i like. any ideas??? thanks much!

"Where would be the melodies the harpers could not find?" Gaelic Proverb

[Serendyn]

I play several instruments myself, and I do have an Idea for you.
Pick one for a time, but approach it from the styles of all the others (such as remembering that wind players have to breathe, while a harpist can go on and on). For me, this always opens up new inspiration and the joy of playing.

:hiya: i can play piano, keyboard and recorded, but i don't play often. i also play the harp, i have a small (lap) harp, and i recently bought a full size one. love them!!! i've been playing harp for about ... 9 or 10 years now, i think. i got a violin last year, and i've yet to learn how to play it, but am trying to figure it out. would also love a wooden whistle, but can't find any i like. any ideas??? thanks much!

[ForestB]

I am learning the bagpipes. I started on the practice chanter exactly a year ago and on the full Highland pipes about two months ago. I really wanted to get a set of Welsh pipes but I saw no way to learn on those so will wait until comfortable with the ones I have first.
Forest

[ancientharp]

I've been playing the harp for about 3.5 years now. Before that I used to play the flute, but I haven't in a few years because my husbands' ears are overly sensitive to sharp sounds... I twiddle around on the recorder, but nothing has held my interest the way the harp has (:

[Nine Hazelnuts]

Welcome, Ancientharp.

There are a number of harpers in OBOD, as you'll soon discover. I play early Irish wire strung harp. When you have a moment, take a look at the Harpers: Share your music and lore board under the Music Forum. Some of us on that list have actually met one another.

Here's a photo of my harp. It's a Kortier Trinity College replica in black willow and cherry. The sound is absolutely lush and gorgeous.


What kind do you play?

Best wishes,

--Sue

I've been playing the harp for about 3.5 years now. Before that I used to play the flute, but I haven't in a few years because my husbands' ears are overly sensitive to sharp sounds... I twiddle around on the recorder, but nothing has held my interest the way the harp has (:

804c-1.jpg

[Corwen]

I am learning the bagpipes. I started on the practice chanter exactly a year ago and on the full Highland pipes about two months ago. I really wanted to get a set of Welsh pipes but I saw no way to learn on those so will wait until comfortable with the ones I have first.
Forest

Welsh pipes by John Tose are open fingering so learning tin whiste is the first step.

[ancientharp]

Welcome, Ancientharp.

There are a number of harpers in OBOD, as you'll soon discover. I play early Irish wire strung harp. When you have a moment, take a look at the Harpers: Share your music and lore board under the Music Forum. Some of us on that list have actually met one another.

Here's a photo of my harp. It's a Kortier Trinity College replica in black willow and cherry. The sound is absolutely lush and gorgeous.


What kind do you play?

Best wishes,

--Sue

Ooooooo, harp-lust(: I want a Kortier next. Although I'm a little leery of wire strung... Right now I'm playing a 25 string Celtic harp made by Roger Muma, in London, Ontario ( www.mumaharps.com ). It has a very pretty, clear tone, and it was within my budget for 'real' harps. It's black walnut with Baltic birch soundboard. I haven't seen the 'harpers' topic yet, but this is just the third time I've been on these boards, so I'm still feeling my way around. I'll definitely check it out.

[Tryak]

I played concert flute for 2 years and I also have some limited experience with bass and guitar. I find that time slips away from me when I think about getting back into playing music again and being in an apartment the neighbors restrict my hours quite a bit.

[MacGhillechearr]

Here's a list of what I play, or at least attempt to play!

Uilleann Pipes
Guitar (Acoustic & Electric)
Bluegrass Banjo
Mandolin
Flute
Trumpet
Tin Whistles (many of 'em!)
Low Whistles
Shakuhachi
Bones
Pipe Band snare drum
Jaw Harp
Bodhran
Udu Drum

My next goal is to acquire a harp and learn it. I am currently attempting to sell some guitars to fund my new goal.

[OllieKing]

I seem to have weird nack for being able to pick up an instrument and get a tune out of it almost straight away. Here's a list of what I play.

Guitar (6 and 12-string acoustic, electric and bass)
Mandolin
Bouzouki
Irish Whistle
Fiddle
D/G Melodeon
Recorder
Piano
Ukulele
(Trombone - I hardly play it at all any more)
And I sing.

I love the sound of the Native American flute, so that is something that I'd like to get next. Luckily, I found a guy who lives in the UK who makes them and they are reliativly cheap.

[willowcrow]

I have recently picked up the Panflute, which sounds great with my significant other's celtic harp . Other than that, I play the guitar, bass guitar, and piano. A bit of orchestral flute too, although its been a while!

[Womble]

I'm a newbie to the forum, so please forgive me for picking up old threads!

I play violin (27 years), mandolin (6 years), English concertina (1 year), recorders (30+ years) and piano (29 years). I also possess a guitar but cannot claim to be able to play it.

I played classical violin until I was about 22, and then stopped playing it for a while and then was persuaded to convert to folk. I started playing fiddle for a local Morris side last year and I've thoroughly enjoyed it so far, although I have come to the conclusion that to be involved in Morris, one has to be slightly mad My biggest challenge has been learning to play by ear, rather than from the dots.

[Olwynne]

Hello.

Instruments I play:

Voice
Guitar (acoustic and electric)
Bass guitar
Piano
Djembe
Bodhran
Fujara (a Slovakian overtone fipple flute)
and this year I'm learning a new instrument : Didjeridoo

[wolfsbane]

I used to play a few different instruments,

Trumpet
Trombone
French Horn
Bass Guitar (Badly)
Violin
Drums

The only one i still play is the drums. I ave just purchased a small Bodrhan to learn how to play. I thought with me playing drums it wouldnt be hard. Yeah right got that wrong didnt i

[oaklight]

Stereo.

[Aitrus]

Learning to play the Tin Whistle and ocarina.

The ocarina I use isn't the normal style. It's a polycarbonate C from mountainsocarina.com. It's ideal for hiking and camping.

[Tyriell_Whisperwind]

with my recent submission to start my bardic grade im making the effort to learn a instrument, i was inspired to learn to play after reading about the bards, i have even started writing my own poetry! i recently picked up a really nice dark green accoustic/electric guitar. im hoping i stick with it, my self discipline has never been the greatest. any tip for beginners? i feel more comfortable using my fingers then a pick. thanks for the feedback!

[malcolmb]

Hello Tyriell_Whisperwind

I used to play guitar around the English Folk Scene in the late 1960s and early 1970s and can boast that Bert Jansch once gave me a guitar picking lesson (he doesn’t boast about it – odd, isn’t it!). The best advice I can offer you is to start simple. You can sing just about any song with a few basic chords. I suggest you learn the chords of C, F, G, A minor, E minor and D minor. Don’t worry about picking yet. Just learn how to change fluidly between those chords. Start with C. Strum it four times and then go to F and strum that four times. Then back to C. Keep doing this until you can place your fingers in the right place on the strings without needing to think about it. Once you can do that, add another chord to the sequence. C, F, G, C, F, G. Keep adding a chord in my list above until you are totally happy with the process of changing chord. Once you can do this, you are then ready to try a few simple picks.

In all the years I played guitar before arthritis put an end to it, I never used a pick. I simply let the fingernails on my right hand grow a bit and kept the fingernails on my left hand very short. There are thousands of websites which will teach you guitar picks and these are just two.

http://www.guitarforbeginners.com/fingerpick.html

http://guitarfingerpicking.tripod.com/

They all use a tablature which shows the six strings and which finger plucks which string. At the basic level, you are working with chords and picking notes within the chord. As you move on to more advanced picking, the chords become less rigid. In many ways you begin to use the fret board like a piano, moving up and down the fret board creating more complex chords. But for the moment, keep it simple.

One piece of bad news I must give you is that there is no substitute for practice. Regular, monotonous practice. When you watch really good folk guitarists, they are picking away up and down the fret board and singing at the same time. You can only do this if you have the confidence that repeated practice gives you.

Well, that is the best advice I can offer. Hope it helps.

Bright Blessings
Malcolm